NSA Ajit Doval's strength increased during the Modi government's third term, gaining support from these powerful bureaucrats

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term as National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval has increased his powers. The central government has appointed two senior officers to assist them. Both these officers who are part of Doval's team are considered experts in intelligence matters. Both these officers have been associated with intelligence and RAW (Research and Analysis Wing, RAW) for a long time. TV Ravichandran, who was part of Ajith Doval's team, has been appointed as Deputy National Security Adviser. Ravichandran was earlier Special Director of Investigation (IP). Similarly, Deputy National Security Adviser and former RAW chief Rajinder Khanna has been appointed as Additional National Security Adviser. Rajinder Khanna, former Chairman of R&AW and Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) of R&AW, has been promoted as Additional NSA, while 1990 batch Indian Police of Tamil Nadu cadre has been promoted. IPS officer TV Ravichandran has been posted as Deputy NSA in the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). Rajinder Khanna is a 1978 batch IPS officer of Odisha cadre. He served as President of R&AW from December 2014 to December 2016. He headed the R&AW Operations desk and is known as an expert on Pakistan and terrorism. Khanna was posted as Deputy NSA (T&I) in January 2018. The order issued by Special Director of Intelligence Ravichandran stated that IPS Ravichandran of Tamil Nadu cadre is currently Special Director of Intelligence and has been appointed as Deputy NSA for a period of 2 years from the date of his joining till the date of his retirement (i.e. August 31, 2024) after which Ravichandran will be reappointed on contract basis. , the government is believed to want to maintain continuity in the national security structure by adding two more senior officers to the NSA. In such a scenario, the workload on the NSA may ease somewhat after the addition of two new officers to Ajit Doval's team. According to sources, Ajit Doval is now completely free to help PM Modi as other issues related to internal security will be handled by the additional NSA. Rajinder Khanna, a 1978-batch Research and Analysis Wing Service (RAS) officer with expertise in counter-terrorism, served as the chief of R&AW from December 2014 to December 2016. Earlier, Khanna headed the operations desk at R&AW and specialized in Pakistan and counter-terrorism matters. Before being appointed as Deputy NSA in January 2018, Khanna headed the Technology and Intelligence (T&I) Division. Pankaj Singh, another Deputy NSA in the NSA, was appointed to the post for 2 years in January last year. Recently, 1989 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Vikram Misri was appointed as Foreign Secretary. He will be sent to the US to replace Vinay Kwatra. He may be appointed as India's ambassador to the US. The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), under the supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with NSA Ajit Doval as its Secretary, acts as the apex body for all matters related to internal and external security.